Robert is a first-year epidemiology Ph.D. student whose interests include infectious disease transmission modeling, biodefense, and health security. Prior to joining Brown, Robert worked as a consultant for Gryphon Scientific and Deloitte, where he specialized in developing risk assessments associated with viral, bacterial, fungal, and other toxic agents. As a consultant, Robert extensively supported ASPR’s Office of Healthcare Readiness (OHCR), FEMA’s Office of Emerging Threats (OET), and CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), among others. Robert holds an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Colby College.

Margaret is a first-year Ph.D. student. Before beginning her doctoral studies, Margaret worked at Westat, a contract research organization, where she managed a CDC-funded project that worked to estimate the effectiveness of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines in the US. She also has research and applied public health experience addressing dengue in the Philippines and HIV/AIDS in Botswana. Her research interests include improving preparedness for and responses to future pandemics – with a focus on community engagement. She holds a Master of Science in Control of Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Global Health from Georgetown University.

Maria Pieruccini previously worked at the Rhode Island Department of Health assisting in infectious disease investigations and the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation researching alternative Tuberculosis testing methods. Maria received her Bachelors in Public Health from The Ohio State University with a concentration in Sociology in 2022 and is currently pursuing her MPH from Brown University with a concentration in global infectious disease epidemiology. 

Experience working with the Pandemic Center, in their own words:

Experience working with the Pandemic Center, in their own words:

Experience working with the Pandemic Center, in their own words:

Experience working with the Pandemic Center, in their own words:

Experience working with the Pandemic Center, in their own words:

Kris is an undergrad studying in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and is working with the Pandemic Center over the summer on the Pandemic Game Changers Initiative, as a summer UTRA.